Located in the center of Jerusalem, Sol offers a wide range of tapas style dishes (over 60, in fact!)…among our favorites were the beef fillet and smoked goose breast medallions and the “Andalusian sea bream fillet of lightly fried fish topped with an excellent dressing of tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice and coriander…" Yonatan Sternberg and his partner in mini-dish crime, sample the best that Sol in Jerusalem has to offer.

Did you ever stop to consider why you choose to go out to a specific place? What is so special about it? When it comes to the Sol Tapas Bar, in Jerusalem, I gave this some thought, and could easily provide you with at least 60 good reasons why this place is one of the ultimate bars in town.

Located in the center of Jerusalem, Sol, established by the Baumgarten Family, offers a wide range of tapas style dishes (over 60, in fact!) which allow guests to sample a variety of dishes while enjoying a glass of wine or one of the other beverages on the menu.

Most people say that the concept of tapas comes from Andalusia region in Spain. The legend has it that many years ago, in a dark tavern, one man used a piece of bread topped with ham or cheese to cover his wine glass, thereby protecting it from the flies. The word tapa is Spanish for cover, hence tapas. Since then, an entire culinary scene, where people order a variety of small dishes to their tables has evolved.

The tapas offered at Sol range from vegetables prepared in different styles, through to seafood, meat, cheese and a variety of fish dishes. Not only is this an excellent way to start off your evening, but you can also order a full meal, compiled of an assortment of sophisticated and tasty dishes. Personally, I feel that it is best to order one or two different tapas with each drink.

The first thing that struck us when we entered the restaurant was the décor. The warm colors, the wooden tables and bar and the slightly dimmed lights come together and provide a homey comfortable setting. Looking around, I noticed people of all ages, several couples and us, a couple of old friends ready to get the tapas show on the road.

We started off with an assortment of tapas, our favorites were the beef fillet and smoked goose breast medallions with a Dijon mustard sauce on the side and the “Andalusian sea bream fillet”, in which the fish was lightly fried and topped with an excellent dressing of tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice and coriander.

If you still have room for main courses after your tapas selections, Sol also offers a range of dishes to satisfy a larger appetite. While my friend went for the filet mignon, I decided to order a tuna steak served with sautéed spinach and a salad. Both portions were very generous and the piece of baked cauliflower which accompanied the dishes was welcomed. Unfortunately my tuna steak was slightly over cooked and flaky which was a shame, since the dish has a lot of potential. The fillet mignon was grilled to perfection and topped with a delicate red wine sauce.

While drinking our coffee we both agreed that with such a variety of dishes, you always feel like you’ve missed out on something. I guess that means that we'll just have to come back.